Short Essay Questions

1. How many trees are felled by the men? Why are the trees named before they are cut down?

2. Why was the translator of little use to Heyerdahl and Watzinger? What was the result?

3. What two things did the naval experts warn Heyerdahl about before the trip?

4. What is the Guardian Rios? What is its purpose?

5. How does Heyerdahl come to formulate the plan for the trip? What are the reactions of his friends and colleagues?

6. What is the Peruvian President's interest in the expedition? Does the president help or hinder the expedition?

7. What was the main similarity between the cultures that further convinced Heyerdahl?

8. What is the purpose of the trip to Guayaquil?

9. Why does the Kon-Tiki nearly make an unscheduled stop on the Galapagos Islands? Why is the landing aborted?

10. Heyerdahl's financing falls through and the trip is in jeopardy. How is the trip saved?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

About the time the crew arrived at the tiny, uninhabited island, this comment was made: "'Purgatory was a bit damp,' said Bengt, 'but heaven is more or less as I'd imagined it.'" What did Bengt mean? To what was he comparing Purgatory and Heaven? Do you feel that the comparison was accurate? How might the other crew members felt about the comment?

Essay Topic 2

On the ocean there is not much to do other than work, talk to one another, eat, and stare at the sea. How do the men keep occupied while out on the sea? Are there games or interaction with the sea creatures? If any conflict should arise during the course of the trip, how would it be handled? Who would make the decisions?

Essay Topic 3

Polynesians celebrate an oral history, told by Tei Tetua. Examine the tales told by Tei Tuta and how they affected Heyerdahl. Given the manner in which the stories were told, do you think they were accurate? Did the stories prove or disprove any of Heyerdahl's own theories? Were any of Tei Tetua's stories proven or disproved by the trip made by the Kon-Tiki?